Class warns teens about “red flags” on human trafficking

Updated 4:33 pm, Friday, April 14, 2017

Cara Mackler, a professional educator at the Women's Center of Greater Danbury, discusses various topics to a group of teenagers in the human trafficking prevention program. Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Cara Mackler, a professional educator at the Women's Center of Greater Danbury, discusses various topics to a group of teenagers in the human trafficking prevention program. Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Photo: Scott Mullin / For Hearst Connecticut Media

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Kelly Figueroa, 13 of Danbury, asks a question in the human trafficking prevention program at the Women's Center of Greater Danbury. Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Kelly Figueroa, 13 of Danbury, asks a question in the human trafficking prevention program at the Women's Center of Greater Danbury. Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Photo: Scott Mullin / For Hearst Connecticut Media

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Ana Flood, 14 of Sherman, discusses information learned in the human trafficking prevention program at the Women's Center of Greater Danbury. Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Ana Flood, 14 of Sherman, discusses information learned in the human trafficking prevention program at the Women's Center of Greater Danbury. Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Photo: Scott Mullin / For Hearst Connecticut Media

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Juliana Figueiredo, 14 of Bethel, works on an exercise in the human trafficking prevention program at the Women's Center of Greater Danbury. Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Juliana Figueiredo, 14 of Bethel, works on an exercise in the human trafficking prevention program at the Women's Center of Greater Danbury. Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Photo: Scott Mullin / For Hearst Connecticut Media

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Isabella Tomé, 13 of Pleasantville NY, listens to the educator in the human trafficking prevention program at the Women's Center of Greater Danbury. Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Isabella Tomé, 13 of Pleasantville NY, listens to the educator in the human trafficking prevention program at the Women's Center of Greater Danbury. Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Photo: Scott Mullin / For Hearst Connecticut Media

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Madison Larkin, 14 of New Milford, discusses information learned in the human trafficking prevention program at the Women's Center of Greater Danbury. Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Madison Larkin, 14 of New Milford, discusses information learned in the human trafficking prevention program at the Women's Center of Greater Danbury. Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Photo: Scott Mullin / For Hearst Connecticut Media

Class warns teens about “red flags” on human trafficking

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DANBURY — When a small group of teenage girls started a three-day course to learn about human trafficking this week, many didn’t even know what it was, let alone that it had taken place so close to home.

Juliana, along with six other girls, learned facts and myths about pimps and traffickers, what makes young people vulnerable to trafficking and how to recognize recruitment tactics and other “red flag” behaviors.

“I’m probably going to be more aware of everything that’s going on to really make sure that this doesn’t happen to me or anyone else around me,” Juliana said when the class was over.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security defines human trafficking as the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or a commercial sex act, and likens it to modern-day slavery.

“The most common misconceptions of trafficking and exploitation are that it only happens overseas, that it only happens to girls and women, and that people can leave the situation whenever they want,” said Cara Mackler, a prevention educator at the Women’s Center who taught the class. “In truth, it happens right here in Danbury and all over the United States, in suburbs and cities alike. It happens to people of all genders, sexual orientations, and socio-economic classes.”

This is the first time the Women’s Center has offered the “Not a #Number” curriculum, which was developed for youths between the ages of 12 and 18 by Love146, an international human rights organization with offices in New Haven. The program is also being incorporated into the center’s weekly support group for girls.

Among issues the group discussed this week was the case of three men charged last month with involvement in a Danbury-based human trafficking ring that police said targeted young men with mental illnesses and operated for at least 20 years.

Police said Danbury resident Robert King, who headed the trafficking ring, befriended his victims, plied them with drugs and alcohol before pushing them into prostitution to pay back their drug debts. King was charged with human trafficking, a felony punishable by up to 40 years in prison.

Two men authorities have identified as King’s main clients, William Trefzger, a previously convicted sex offender from Westport, and Bruce J. Bemer, of Glastonbury, were both charged with patronizing a trafficked victim — the first time the charge has been used in the state.

On the last day of the Women’s Center program, the girls spent time discussing how they would navigate potentially exploitive situations, such as attending a party where drugs and alcohol will be served or being pressured by a romantic partner.

In another exercise, the girls wrote down the names of people they could contact if they needed help or someone to confide in.

Ana Flood, 14, of Sherman, said she knew about trafficking before she took the course because her sister volunteers at the Women’s Center. But she learned about red flags that might signal someone is involved in trafficking — having an older boyfriend or partner, having excessive absences from school and suddenly sporting expensive items like handbags or jewelry.

“It’s good for me to learn this stuff so I know to be more careful so it won’t happen to me,” Ana said. “And if it was happening to a friend, I could help them through it or call the Women’s Center.

“I think every kid my age should learn about this, because we want to prevent it from happening,” she said.

Each girl had to get permission from a parent or guardian to participate in the class.

Jayna Larkin, of New Milford, at first thought the subject matter might be a little much for her daughter, 14-year-old Madison. But after the two discussed it, they decided it was an issue that Madison should know more about.

“A lot of parents are guarded, but they shouldn’t be,” Jayna Larkin said. “This is reality. These kids, especially girls, need to know these things are going on.”